Results : RS300 Open Northampton SC

Round 3 of the GUL RS300 Racing Circuit at Northampton SC 2000

The RS300's were greeted by a perfect spring day for Round 3 of the GUL
RS300 Racing Circuit. Sharing Pitsford with the 600's and 200's the racing
was organised with one fleet always off the water in a rolling start
sequence. Race Officer Matthew Flint did a superb job of keeping to a tight
schedule and setting some amazing downwind courses featuring five closely
spaced gybe marks. This led to some very tight racing.



In Race 1 Jerry Wales pulled away with Paul Lewis from the pack with Jerry
going on to extend his lead.



In Race 2 newcomer to the fleet, Morris Mattison, showed the fleet a clean
transom to have a good lead at the first mark followed by Jerry, Paul
Mcgregor & Paul Lewis. Jerry pulled through to take the lead with Lewis
claiming 2nd on the next beat, Lewis sailed a blinder and closed the gap
substantially on Jerry but could not pass him off wind to the finish.



Race 3 promised to be different when Lewis opened up a considerable lead at
the first mark followed by Mattison, Mcgregor & Wales. Lewis extended his
lead as Wales pulled up to 2nd starting the next beat  Disaster then struck
as Lewis snapped his tiller extension leaving Wales to win the race to the
gentle sound of Lewis bashing his head on his boom in frustration.



Saturday night was the RS Ball and the scene of great 300 jubilation as
Paul Lewis was awarded RS Personality of the Year for all his work in
supporting the RS Association and for being such a unique personality!!



Back at Northampton on Sunday morning and the wind was a lighter and even
more shifty. Normal service resumed in Race 4 as Jerry Wales pulled out a
considerable lead to win.



A new face appeared at the front in Race 5 in the cuddly shape of Riki
Hooker. Wales was having none of this and soon passed him to win; meanwhile
Lewis was busy pulling through from last at the first mark to claim second
at the line.



Race 6 soon settled down to a finishing order of Wales, Lewis & Hooker which
was held to the finish. Jerry Wales, the Nadi Komanec of the 300 fleet,
produced the first perfect score in Circuit history to register an emphatic
win with six first places. It will be interesting to see how Will Gulliver,
after the arrival of a baby daughter, and Matt Sargent, work commitments,
cope with Jerry's blistering form when they return for the next GUL Racing
Circuit event.